School of American Ballet history

Augusta was the only American to achieve the rank of prima ballerina in Europe and held that honor until Nana Gollner became prima ballerina of Colonel de Basil's Ballet Russes in 1935.

In 1941 she studied at George Balanchine’s fledgling dance academy.

Balanchine teaching at SAB in 1942

Since 1948, SAB has been the official school of New York City Ballet with the mission of providing world class dancers for what has grown to become America’s largest ballet company.

Whelan’s most-revered interpretation of Robbins’s choreography was as the fearsome Novice in his 1951 dance-drama The Cage, for which she transformed her body into an angular insect.

SAB students performing in The Nutcracker in 1954

New York City Ballet opened the theater on April 24, 1964, and has since been its resident ballet company.

Alexandra Danilova conducting a dress rehearsal for the very first Workshop Performance in 1965; V. Sladon

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been New York City Ballet's permanent annual summer home since 1966.Among its many international engagements, New York City Ballet has made numerous appearances in the capitals of Europe.

Robert Weiss and Gelsey Kirkland performing Flower Festival at the 1968 Workshop Performance; Photo by Martha Swope

In 1969, SAB relocated again to rented dance studios at the Juilliard School’s new Lincoln Center headquarters, placing it in close proximity to New York City Ballet’s new home at the New York State Theater.

However it was the addition of faculty members Suki Schorer and Richard Rapp in 1972 that marked an intrinsic change in the philosophy of training at the school.

Stephanie Selby, 56, ‘A Very Young Dancer’ Who Inspired Many, DiesA 1976 book of photographs and text traced her year at the School of American Ballet and made her famous.

In 1983 Whelan took the stage for her first SAB workshop performance on the day that NYCB cofounder George Balanchine died.

In May 1987, SAB became the eleventh constituent of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and shortly thereafter, moved into its brand new, custom-built headquarters in Lincoln Center’s Samuel B. and David Rose Building.

She rose to the rank of soloist in 1989 and of principal just two years later.

(First published September 1993)

In 1997, SAB began its annual Student Choreography Workshop which provided students the opportunity to flex their choreographic skills by creating new works on their peers.

Students performing in the 2009 Lecture Demonstration; Photo by Erin Baiano.

In 2013, just prior to her departure from NYCB, Whelan independently explored new territory.

Whelan appeared in 2015 with longtime partner and former NYCB principal Jock Soto in Hagoromo, a Noh-based program that combined opera with choreography by David Neumann and puppetry by Chris Green.

In 2016 she reestablished her partnership with Brooks, and the duo premiered Some of a Thousand Words in July at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival to the accompaniment of the string quartet Brooklyn Rider.

SAB students performing in The Nutcracker in 2018

2019 Student Choreography Workshop

She was not destined to be a ballerina, but she dedicated her life to Balanchine’s legacy.By Penelope GreenMay 4, 2021